"It is the first time in a number of weeks I've had the luxury of being able to pick Mulumbu, Claudio Yacob and James Morrison in the same midfield," he said. "When they are together and everyone is doing their jobs properly we are a good team and deserve to be in the top eight."

The Baggies boss also paid testimony to strikers Shane Long and Lukaku, who is on loan this season from Chelsea.

"They are a good combination. When they play together they play well but when I have my three midfield players in there it is difficult to play both," he said.

"Sometimes I have to make difficult decisions and in recent weeks Rom, for a 19-year-old, has been carrying a lot of weight up front. So it was nice to give him a breather and the chance to come into the game to do what he did.

"Rom did well but he got the benefit of the hard work of Shane Long, who put in a hell of a shift. He came on when the game was open - we knew Liverpool would come chasing the game and we could pick them off - and fortunately for the first time this year it worked."